Category: kmiz-local-news

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Fire Department says it is phasing out a harmful fire fighting foam for its trucks because of its known environmental hazards, particularly its lasting impact on soil and water from PFAS chemicals.

Columbia Fire Department Assistant Chief Lester Shewmake said the new foam is a safer alternative.

“The new foam doesn’t have actually have the PHAS in there, its safer for our crews, it doesn’t get absorbed in the environment, the old foam would get absorbed into water and fish and other things,” Shewmake said.

According to the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council, aqueous film-forming foam is a highly effective firefighting product for fighting high-hazard flammable liquid fires. The chemical foam has been used at military installations, airports, petroleum refineries, bulk storage facilities and chemical manufacturing plants.

Firefighters tend to use the foam to extinguish fires that are difficult to fight with water alone, especially those that involve flammable liquids, like petroleum, according to ConsumerNotice.

“Fires that have alcohol in line, gasolines, diesels , alcohols, stuff that doesn’t readily mix water or it will kinda sit on water so just certain chemicals that water won’t put out the fire,” Shewmake said.

The firefighting foam comes in a concentrate mixed with water. It’s available in 3% and 6% formulas, depending on how much water is in the mix.

“The new stuff is stuff is three percent concentration when we’re using it we actually have an abductor that pulls it out of a bucket and we can set the percentage so our old foam was six percent the new stuff is 3%,” Shewmake said.

The foam works by coating the fuel for the fire and by cooling the blaze. It then covers the fuel in a film that prevents oxygen from reaching it and stops the fire from reigniting.

Consumer Notice says the foam is toxic, especially if it contains PFOS and PFOA.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency note that the PHAS are present in small amounts in the flood of most people in the U.S., but for most people, they don’t pose a threat in small amounts.

However, they can be harmful if someone suffers from long-term exposure, such as firefighters who frequently use the product. The chemicals build up in the body and may cause negative health effects, including cancer.

“Anytime we can start reducing exposures that our personnel is exposed to, is a good situation for us we don’t want to cause any problems for them after they retired or later on,” Shewmake said.

Studies have shown the foam is also toxic to animals.

Boone County received a $82.684.40 from the Local Emergency Planning Committee that was distributed to the Columbia Fire Department, Boone County Fire Protection District and the Columbia Regional Airport.

CFD transitioned to the new foam Thursday.

BCFPD said it received the new foam but it is not in use yet.

According to Shewmake, the department is working with the Department of Natural Resources to find the safest way to dispose of the harmful foam and will get guidance from the government.

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Madison Stuerman

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Editor’s Note: The driver’s hometown was corrected after a source error.

A Russellville man was seriously injured on Thursday morning after he was hit by a car in Cole County.

According to a crash report from Jefferson City Police, the crash happened at 12:50 a.m. in the 200 block of Highway 179.

Police said a 47-year-old man from Jefferson City was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima southbound on Highway 179 when he went off the road and hit a pedestrian on the western shoulder.

The 43-year-old man was taken to a Columbia hospital by ambulance with serious injuries.

Police said in the release that alcohol is being considered a probable contributing factor in the crash.

In a second release, police said the driver was arrested on suspicion of Driving While Intoxicated.

The victim was reported in stable condition as of 8 a.m. on Thursday and was receiving ongoing treatment, according to police.

The car had extensive damage, according to the report. The driver did not have any injuries and was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Midwest March for Life will take place at the Capitol Thursday morning, as legal battles regarding Amendment 3 continue.

On Wednesday, a Missouri Senate committee approved putting a ballot measure before voters that would overturn Amendment 3.

The full House has already approved House Joint Resolution 73. Voters approved Amendment 3, which established reproductive health care — including abortion — as a constitutional right in last November’s election.

If the ballot measure to overturn Amendment 3 passes the Senate, the question will be placed on the ballot in 2026.

Thursday’s Midwest March for Life rally will begin at 8 a.m. with an opening and Capitol prayer walk, followed by several other scheduled events, including a rally. Those events can be found here.

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Matthew Sanders

Missouri voters could soon get another chance to decide whether abortion rights should be part of the state’s constitution.

A bill moving through the Senate would put a ballot measure up for a vote in 2026 that would effectively repeal Amendment 3, which voters approved in November. Amendment 3 enshrines abortion rights in the Missouri Constitution.

The House has already approved the joint resolution that would put the question on the ballot. However, with a little over a week left to finish up work on the budget, it’s not clear what will become of the resolution.

Do you think Missouri voters should reconsider abortion rights? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Rolla man who secretly recorded women at the hospital where he worked was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years in prison, a press release from the Department of Justice says.

Ian Wood, 45, pleaded guilty in January to producing child pornography and receiving child pornography.  He admitted to recording young children to create child porn, the release says.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified law enforcement about child porn being uploaded to Wood’s Google account, the release says. Law enforcement found child porn, along with files of nude women being recorded without their consent at the hospital where he worked, the release says.

He was first arrested for the crimes in December 2022.

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Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Callaway County woman accused of shooting and killing a woman at an apartment complex earlier this month is out on bond.

Heather M. Smith, 37, was charged with second-degree murder, child endangerment, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon. Her bond was lowered to $150,000 on Monday and she was released Tuesday afternoon from the Callaway County Jail.

Smith is accused of killing Kara Dills, 37. Court documents in previous reporting say the shooting started with an argument between Smith and Dills at Hunter Lane Apartments. The documents cite nine witnesses to the shooting.

Video obtained by ABC 17 News shows the moments leading up to the deadly shooting at the Hunter Lane apartments on April 13.

Smith’s private investigator Cody Vaughn said his children are related to Smith’s oldest child. He said the fight started over children’s bicycles early that Sunday afternoon.

The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office said at 12:38 p.m. they received a non-emergency phone call from a resident at Hunter Lane Apartments. The caller was confirmed to be a family member of Dills who expressed concerns that a neighbor was bullying her grandchildren. However, the caller did not request a deputy to respond.

According to Vaughn, the initial argument was between Dills’ mother and Smith. He said after roughly two hours Dills showed up and an altercation began between her and Smith.

About eight people are in the Hunter Lane Apartments parking lot as the argument began. The video shows Smith and Dills arguing with each other then Dills shoves Smith. Then Smith pulls out a gun and points it at multiple people.

Vaughn said Dills assaulted Smith first.

“Thats when the weapon is first drawn, there has been physical contact, it is already an assault,” Vaughn said.

The video then shows Dills run to a vehicle and grab a gun. She is then allegedly shown pistol whipping Smith.

The gun went off, grazing a man later identified as Thomas Jones, 71, on his head, according to the probable cause statement. After Dills lowered her gun and started to walk away, Smith shot her in the stomach, the statement says. She later died.

Just before the video ends it shows Dills turns as if she is going to walk away. Former Cole County Prosecutor Bill Tackett said that moment will be key in court.

“I see the victim’s right arm turn and it’s this turn here, I haven’t seen the rest that would make you believe that they were retreating,” Tackett said.

Defense Attorney Ted Luby is representing Smith and argues she acted in self-defense.

“Its absolutely lawful self-defense, 10,000%, she’s 5’2, I think there was a 6-foot-5 gentlemen, along with a mob of others attacking her and threatening to kill her and injury her under those circumstances she’s entitled to use self-defense,” Luby said.

Proving self-defense will be the focus, if the case goes to trial and Tackett said a jury will have to focus on the Smith’s state of mind at the time of the shooting.

“Does the shooter believe they’re in imminent danger of death, serious physical injury or forcible felony thats what a judge or jury would have to look at.” Tackett said.

“She only has to reasonably believe she is in danger, the law doesn’t even require that she actually be in danger, the jury instructions say that specifically,” Luby added.

Vaughn said the best outcome would be self-defense.

“She’s a great mother, she’s dedicated to the community, she’s a very giving person I think justice would be a self-defense ruling,” Vaughn said.

Smith is due in court on May 28. Luby said he will work to get the case dismissed.

ABC 17 News reached out to the Callaway County prosecutor.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Scott County Prosecutor’s Office has been named the special prosecutor in a pair of cases involving a Columbia restaurant owner.

Crystal Umfress is charged with felonies in two cases in southeast Missouri. In one case, she’s charged with second-degree arson. In another, she was charged with two counts of filing false documents and three counts of forgery after she was accused of impersonating county officials and restaurant owners.

Both cases were initially in Dunklin County before being moved to Butler County.

Umress was accused in 2023 of hiring Kerry Raymond to set fire to Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant, court documents in previous reporting say. 

A trial setting for Umfress is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 27 at the Butler County Courthouse.

Raymond is charged with second-degree arson and his case was moved to Stoddard County. A case review is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, July 31.

Court filings in Raymond’s case from this month indicate that he will testify in Umfress’ case.  

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Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Senate is discussing a bill that would make the Show Me State an open-enrollment state. 

On Wednesday, the Senate took up House Bill 711 for a third reading and final passage. The legislation would allow K-12 public schools to decide whether to accept students from neighboring districts.

House Bill 711, sponsored by Rep. Brad Pollit (R-Sedalia), passed the state House in March with an 88-69 vote. It marks the fifth consecutive year the bill has cleared the House. 

The legislation would cap student transfers at 3%, create a special education fund and delay varsity sports eligibility for high school transfers. Pollit’s bill would also not require participating districts to add teachers, staff, or classrooms to accommodate transfer students. 

During Wednesday’s Senate session, proponents of the bill argued that it mimics the “free market” and motivates districts to improve. 

This bill includes funding for transportation, which was not included in past iterations of the bill. It also includes open enrollment into charter schools.

However, the Senate Floor began discussing a provision from Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern (D- Clay County) that would exclude charter schools from open enrollment.

Nurrenbern argued that in March, 255 schools across the state passed a resolution in opposition to the education reform bill.

“447,359 students attend these schools, and those school leaders are saying loud and clear that this is not good for our community,” Nurrenberg said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

Just after 5 pm, that bill was placed on the Senate’s informal calendar for a third reading on Thursday.

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